Fault divorce may be granted when one spouse proves that the other spouse did something which resulted in the failure of the marriage. The fault grounds for divorce vary by each state, but some of the traditional fault grounds for divorce are adultery, cruelty, confinement in prison, physical inability to have sexual intercourse, and incurable insanity.
Today, all states allow no-fault divorce but about two-thirds of the states also still allow couples to obtain a divorce based on fault grounds. In addition to obtaining a divorce, some states also allow courts to consider fault in dividing property, awarding alimony, or awarding custody of the children.
[Last updated in June of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]